Thai border police have issued an apology after publishing an AI-altered image showing flood relief rescuers in full combat gear and carrying automatic weapons in one of southern Thailand’s hardest-hit cities.

The image, shared by the 437th Border Patrol Police unit on Facebook, sparked controversy online. Netizens were divided, with some condemning the manipulation while others wished the heavily armed rescue teams were real.

Southern Thailand has faced severe flooding in recent days, with at least 55 confirmed fatalities. The controversial image was posted after social media clips reportedly captured sounds resembling gunfire as volunteers on jetskis worked in a flooded Hat Yai neighborhood. The caption read, “Border patrol ready to enter zone 8 today,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.

Factcheckers identified digital watermarks in the photo using Google’s AI detection tool, SynthID. A star-shaped Gemini watermark indicated the image had been created with Google’s AI software.

The police unit later shared the original photo, which showed unarmed officers in orange life vests aboard a boat. Rescue supplies were visible in both versions. “This is a real image before it was made into an AI image,” the unit said, adding, “We apologize for any misunderstanding.”

No personnel have been disciplined over the incident. An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the AI-generated image was intended merely to demonstrate the police’s readiness and that none of the flood relief staff carried firearms.

The incident occurred despite a prior warning from Thailand’s government-run anti-fake news center, which urged the public not to share AI-generated images that could mislead people or hinder relief operations.

Online reactions were mixed: some criticized the use of AI during a crisis, emphasizing the importance of accurate communication, while others expressed a desire for authorities to deploy armed rescuers.